Managing diversity, democracy and bureaucracy

As a token of appreciation, on August 17, 1995, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Indonesian Independence, Indonesia had conferred the highest civil award ‘Adipura’ to Pakistan’s Father of Nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah for his contributions in supporting Indonesia’s independence, said the visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Addressing the Joint sitting of the Parliament (in Islamabad), Indonesian President said that the economy of a country can grow in an environment of political stability and security. “Conflicts and wars benefit no one”, said Widodo, the second President of Indonesia to address the joint sitting after Dr Ahmed Soekarno.

The Indonesian President called for unity to maintain peace and stability in the region. He said, “weapons and military powers alone will never be able to create and maintain world’s peace. Pakistan and Indonesia had decades-old friendship. The two countries had much in common with both being biggest Muslim Populations, members of D-8, OIC, Supporters of Independence movements, and Democracy as the best way to serve our peoples interest. Both Pakistan and Indonesia believe in diversity, pluralistic philosophy, and democracy which is not an easy thing to follow, specially, in view of need to preserve unity and peace and well managed democracy with firm commitment to tolerance and mutual respect.

In the ultimate analysis managing democracy and diversity was important for nations’ way forward, specially, in view of the need for higher growth rate of the economy and equality of opportunities and social justice. Such an environment would promote grand values of humanity and peaceful co-existence.

What happened after 9/11 bears witness to plunder, butchery and mass killing of people who never had access to weapons of mass destruction

Earlier, in his welcome address, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq mentioned Pakistan-Indonesia deep bonds of history, religion and culture. Ayaz Sadiq brought on record that Indonesia had never left Pakistan alone in its situations of Crisis. Indonesia stood shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan during the Indo-Pak war of 1965 and did not hesitate in handing over whatever military resources they could at that critical time. The 1948, 1965, 1971 and later conflicts in South Asia had their genesis in the seven-decade-old Kashmir dispute. Pakistan hopes that friends like Indonesia world Continue supporting just and peaceful solution of this vital issue.

Pakistan’s challenge has been to ‘fight against global terrorism,’ in which Pakistan has paid the heaviest price by rendering human and financial sacrifices. Sixty-five thousand people lost their lives in war on terror. Loss to Pakistan’s economy was over 120 billion US Dollars that Pakistan had to spend from its own resources. Terrorism is a global issue and not something specific to our region in South Asia, requiring early settlement of Afghanistan issue and the attitude of the United

States now after 16 years of war in that country and its consequences for Pakistan.

Islam in Indonesia is a tolerant Islam, moderate Islam. Focus on diversity management and democracy management, and action-oriented approach to pluralism makes Indonesia an example for Pakistan to follow to tackle the issues of extremism and terrorism. However, the barriers in way of Pakistan are persisting tensions in Pak-India ties and the United States approach of looking at things with Indian Eye.

Hopefully, things will be more manageable once the Afghan issue is resolved through direct talks between the Taliban and the United States, the other option is that the Americans quit Afghanistan as per the most popular voice of the various interest groups in the country. Majority of Afghans are Pashtuns and therefore one option will be to hold immediate elections in Afghanistan to establish a government of the majority to let them manage things. A peaceful and organised exit of the United States from Afghanistan is advisible. What they (Americans) could not achieve in sixteen years with all the mighty force cannot be expected now as a possibility, as per the ground reality.

The American military failure in Afghanistan has to be accepted and acknowledged. The only choice is a political solution. It can work. There is no need to prolong things just for face saving. Hold elections in Afghanistan and let the majority form a government to look after their national and public interests. Ultimately this has to be done if another war is to be avoided.

Supported by ‘Merit System’, the core of Bureaucratic System, democracy and diversity are the best prescription to follow and to manage. Peace and stability are necessary for the whole region.

At the end of the day all wars today are designed to benefit the war industry. Colonial powers had several objectives in view which they achieved through conquests. Today, they no longer need to occupy countries. Neocolonialism is perfectly in action to exploit resources that belong to others. Wars are tools to steal and rob people in distant lands. What happened after 9/11 bears witness to plunder, butchery and mass killing of people who never had access to weapons of mass destruction.

Blame game continues to promote vested interests of powers that had failed to do justice and to solve problems of their own creation in lands of hapless and helpless poor people. Think of Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan in recent times and feel the pain they have suffered from.

Today’s electronic media has kept itself too distant from the media of mass communication and public instruction of past that had focused on promoting positive values and tasteful behaviours in public life. Falsehood needs to be separated from truth, especially in public affairs that make and mar the lives of the people.

We must stop confusing corruption with democracy. Unfortunately, a segment of our political leadership has launched a campaign to defend their criminality, under the garb of democracy. Democracy, in fact, is a system that strengthens the representation of the people in public affairs and promotes the need for a sound, impartial system of accountability. The fault and default is due to those who run the machinery of the government. In other words, it is the man behind the gun that matters.

Top trends and opinions serve as a barometers of our society: Is there a way to separate truth from distortion of facts? Television Anchor persons are supposed to speak on the basis of verified and verifiable facts. What sort of values is our media promoting? Are these values helpful in building national character? Ethical behaviours are needed in that context.

We need to condemn the compulsive liars. We need responsible journalism. We don’t need to politicise every other issue. If parliamentarians set a good example of tasteful behaviours, we can expect our socio-political and economic system to deliver. Effectiveness of triangular relationship between diversity, democracy and bureaucracy is a hope for government and the state to be functional and result oriented. We are all for democracy, Political stability and rule of law. We want to be recognised as an orderly society, doing the right things and doing things right. So, let it be.

The writer is formal Director, National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Government of Pakistan, a political analyst, a public policy expert and an author. His book post 9/11 Pakistan was Published in the United States.

The writer is former Director, National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Government of Pakistan, a Political analyst, a public policy expert and an author. His book post 9/11 Pakistan was published in the United States